"Beyond gadgets" - led by journalist and technology specialist Natalia Zuazo with the support of UNESCO, brought together attendees from 45 countries.
After four intense weeks, the free massive open online course (MOOC) "Internet journalism and technology: how to cover impacts beyond gadgets" delivered by the Argentine journalist and political scientist Natalia Zuazo has come to an end.
Organized by UNESCO and the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, the course brought together more than 2.000 students from 45 countries who explored new ways, tools and perspectives on how to write more profound and critical stories about the vast universe that technologies and the Internet encapsulates.
"When we discussed with UNESCO the possibility of implementing such a course, we agreed that most of today’s journalistic reports on technological related issues are quite mundane, often repetitive and lack real critique. We also agreed that there was a need to strengthen the capacities of journalists and communication workers who cover such issues, to support the improvement of the quality of their reports with the aim of having a wider impact” said Zuazo, author of ‘Internet Wars’, ‘The Owners of Internet’ and ‘The Journalism and Technology Manual’ (available in Spanish as Manual de Periodismo de Tecnología).
She followed onto say "having gone through this learning process with so many students, we saw that there was an immense need for a course with such characteristics and that journalists appreciate receiving tools that improve their understanding about technological infrastructures, personal data or what is behind Artificial Intelligence in order for them to confidently transmit this information to their audiences"
Learning Dynamics
The course was divided into four modules:
- How to write a history of technology (and find stories beyond the usual ones by investigating unaddressed topics including the political, legal and cultural dimensions);
- The technical operation of Internet based on its infrastructure;
- The increasing concentration of personal data, algorithms and the impact of big data on a society;
- Cyber-security - types of computer attacks and ways to prove the identity of information.
"Unfortunately, when one thinks of technology journalism they often associate it with the launch and promotion of new digital applications, devices such as mobile phones, computers", said assistant instructor of the course and journalist Federico Kukso. "This means that this type of reporting is often seen as an extension of corporate marketing rather than real journalism. But technology journalism is and should be more. Our jobs as journalists is to research, investigate and report subjects in a fair, balanced and sometimes critical way and this is exactly what this course offered".
In addition to the video classes delivered by Zuazo, the MOOC counted on a wide range of interviews with specialized and acclaimed journalists such as Ariel Torres, Martina Rua, Bruno Massare, Irina Sternik, Sebastián Davidovsky and the computer law specialist Valeria Milanes and a security researcher, Denise Giusto who delved into the relevant issues of covering technology: the dimensions of technology journalism, the context of this type of reporting, the need for technical and legal explanations and the political and social impacts of such reports.
The course also provided the space for the interaction between hundreds of Ibero-American journalists to build and strengthen their professional networks, to exchange ideas and regional views on a number of issues including the protection of personal data, the impunity of algorithms, cybercrime, the vulnerability of tracking applications for COVID-19 cases, distant learning in the time of the pandemic, net neutrality or technological gaps.
"I really liked the course because I learned the historical context of where the Internet comes from and how it works", said Claudia Espinoza from El Salvador. "I had a vague idea but it seemed interesting to me to know in detail how submarine cables work, who are involved, and the whole process that it takes for me to have Internet at home. Other important information we gained was the use of metaphors, how to structure articles, what should be included, how to explain technical concepts in a way that reader can understand, how to look for the right sources and data handling. I liked the interviews and hearing the experiences of the journalists…it was fascinating".
Analía Passarini from Uruguay said: "It was a pleasure to participate, read, listen, see, navigate, exchange on how to understand and translate technologies in their context: social, political, economics", Mariana Fossatti, GenderIT editor, from APC (Association for Progressive Communications), also from Uruguay thanked the organizers on her social networks, “today I finished Natalia Zuazo's online course on Internet journalism and technology at the Knight Center. I am going to miss spending my Sundays learning and thinking about possible articles. I am not a journalist, but I have a lot to write this year and this course gave me the tools and the ability to do so. The effort to accompany those of us who participated was well noted despite the open format of the course”.
At the end of the course, Raisa Urribarri, emeritus professor at the Universidad de los Andes from Venezuela and student of "Internet journalism and technology: how to cover its impacts beyond gadgets" pointed out:
"The telling of a story that involves ICTs and Internet starts with a good research. You have to understand what things are about in this context. You have to breakout of that newsletter format to deliver something original and make it familiar to the audiences. Capture the reader’s attention by writing something that makes them think about the subject from different perspective”.
Cuban student, Sandra Madiedo decided to add to her experience of studying technology startups in her country and contribute to her work and research experience on the use of personal data and working conditions in this sector in Cuba. She was also interested in improving her understanding of algorithmic governance and legal issues related to privacy in her country. "I am very grateful for this course, I learned a lot especially about how to write articles, metaphors and other everyday issues that we forget about" said Madiedo.
- The content of the course will be compiled, reorganized and available as an self-learning tool on the following website: JournalismCourses.org.
